Method and apparatus for drying barrels



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,700,994

L. BUCK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING BARRELS Filed May 3, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I i ward/ 022 (04 0/ less: M M a ?w hww ,24:

Feb. 5, 1929.

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20521263 5: 4% myd/ Patented Feb; 5, 1929.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUCIIlilN BUCK, OF JAMAICA PLAIN, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO B. I. STURTEVANT COMPANY, OF HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 01!:

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METHOD AN D APPARATUS FOR DRYING BARR-E13.

- Application filed m 3, 1924. Serial No. 710,731..

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for heating barrels and more 10 made and saturating the fiat staves with steam at a relatively high temperature to render them pliable, then bending the staves in a suitable Windlass to form a barrel of the desired shape and size, the staves while thus in the Windlass being immediately placed within another temporary ring to retainthemfirnrly in theirmoulded shape. Itisthen necessary to heat the barrel to drive ofl? the steam because the continued presence of misture in the staves would cause undue warping and shrinkage, prevent the permanent set of the bend in the staves andseriously impair the strength and durability of the barrel. Were the staves not to retain their new shape and form, they would present great resistance in' their attempt tore-assumetheiroriginal shape. The heating must be done as soon as possible after thesteaming'and bending operationsand preferably before the deposited steam has hadan opportunity to cool off, not only in order that the removal of steam may be accomplished with a minimum expense,'but also because ithas been found that the quick re,

-moval of the steam provides the proper-seasoning to give a permanently set stave and therefore a tight and durable barrel. Ac cording to usual existing methods, the heating operation is carried out by suspending the open ended barrel over an open flame 4 oven, the open flame passing upwardly on the inside of the barrel which serves to expel the steam by direct radiation of the heat against the; interior surfaces of the barrel.

, lt will be "appreciated that this method not only involves a considerable fire hazard but calls for nice judgment on the part of the workman in the regulation of the size and temperature ofthe flame and in the time of exposure of the barrel thereto, in order that the moisture may be most quickly and efiec-, f tually, removed without burning anyot the staves. lThe burning or. charring of the barrel is highly objectionable not only because methods and without the risk of fire which is of the weakening of the structure, but principally because of its deleterious efiect on the subsequent contents of the barrel, especially if such contents are to be of a solvent nature.

\ Furthermore, since the outer walls are not heated except by conduction through the Wood from the interior, there is danger that the outer fibers may not be suificiently heated, or that the interior surfaces are required to be excessively heated to obtain the desired drying of the outer portion. Drying out of the staves is not uniform or regular, as the barrels must be turned end for end, so that the ex-. treme ends of the staves may be heated. This inversion of the barrel results in twice as much heat being applied at the centre of the staves along the bilge, although the ends of the staves are more important, and the greatest care must be exercised to revent the barrels from catching fire or ecoming overheated. In any event, for proper heating, the services of a highly skilled workman are required, contributing to the high cost of manufacture.

With the customary method of heating the assembled barrel over open flames, the staves are overheated along the bilge and an excess amount of moisture is removed, while at the ends there is not suificient heat and an excess amount of moisture is retained. Even after the assembled staves are levelled and the croze or chime is cut, there is usually sufficient moisture remaining in the ends to keep the staves expanded sothe end hoops drive up hard. Although a barrel may be reasona 1y tight when the heads are set in, if any considerable time is allowed to pass with the barrels stored when the relative humidity ofthe atmosphere is below normal, theends of the staves will dry out andshrink, which is one of the most common causes of leakage.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus by which barrels may be heated with greater uniformity and economy and with less attendance and smaller liability to injury than in existing always present in. the use of open flames Furthermore this invention insures a hard dried and firmly set stave conforming to the shape of the barrel, wherein a greater amount of moisture is removed and consequently a 105 greater shrinkage is obtained at the ends of the staves than at the bilge, resulting in a tight barrel under sub-normal humidity conditions.

According to the present invention, the,

excess of that calculated to be actually re-- quired for the removal of the moisture. Inasmuch as the air may be continuously recirculated with only such replenishment as may be necessary to compensate for moisture removed from the barrels, this method entails only such additional loss as may occur from the conduction of heat from the excess air to the surrounding, atmosphere, a loss which may be maderelatively small by carry- -ing out the method of the present invention in a well insulated closed chamber or tunnel.

In order to obtain the desired turbulent air streams, one feature of the invention contemplates directing streams of heated air alternately in opposite directions. longitudinally of'the barrel and against both the inner and outer walls. The succession of alternating air streams causes, by opposition, a breaking up of the line of flow of the air, thereby setting up practically a whirlwind of air both inside and outside of the barrel and promoting the degree of contact between the air and Wood. The central part of the air stream, therefore, instead of merely passing longitudinally through the center of the barrel, is spread outward and forced against the interior surfaces of the barrel, with the result that all portions of the stream contribute most effectively to the rapid drying of the wood.

Other features of the invention consist of certain modes of operation and features of construction hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section through one of the drying tunnels; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section of a portion of the drying tunnel with the air circulating unit mounted thereon; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the left hand end of the drying apparatus; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the right hand end of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating a method of nesting barrels.

The apparatus illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings comprises a steaming tunnel 10 of any convenient form and two similar heating tunnels 12 and 14 arranged side barrel is hooped to maintain it properly in shape. The barrels are then successively placed on conveyors 16, 18, cooperating respectively with-the heating tunnels 12 and 14 for carrying them through the tunnels, where they are subjected to currents of heated air for the expulsion of the moisture taken up during the steaming operation.

Although the barrels may be passed either in series or parallel through the two tunnels, the invention is herein described as employing series heating, according to-which the barrels are-passed through tunnels 12 and 14 successively, the conveyors 16 and 18 being run in opposite directions for this purpose. A transferring device indicated generally at. 19 in Fig. 4 is employed to shift the barrels between conveyors 16 and 18 after leaving the first tunnel.

The preferred construction of the tunnel 14 is illustrated in detail in Fig. 1. The tunnel comprises uprightposts 20 and 22 mounted on a concrete base 24 and supporting rafters 26. Inner and outer side walls 28, 29 are secured to the posts and are separated to provide a suitable air space for heat insulation while similarly separated roof boards 30,.31 are supported by the rafters.

Extending lengthwise through the tunnel are two stringers 36, upon which the barrels 38 are supported While being conveyed through the tunnel. The stringers are supported on posts 40 which are braced at intervals by trusses 42, opposite trusses being secured together and to the posts 40 by through bolts 44. The conveyor-18 consists of a pair of endless sprocket chains which run at the ends over driven sprocket wheels 46 and 48 and which are supported within the tunnel on angle irons 50 secured to the stringers 36. A plurality of struts 52 are provided at intervals along the conveyor and attached between the two sprocket chains by angle irons 54 to engage with the bottom surfaces of the barrels and push the latter alongthe stringers through the tunnel. The

lower or return stretch of the conveyor rides over longitudinal planks 56 secured to the floor of the tunnel. The tunnel is provided at its entrance end with an air lock 58 which is included between two depending curtains, aprons or doors 60 and 62 arranged so that the entrance of the barrel serves successively to sweep aside the curtains, thus preventing excessive entrance of fresh air into or loss of heated air from the tunnel as the barrels are admitted. A similar lock 64 is provided at the exit end of the tunnel.

Mounted above the roof of the tunnel are two air circulating units 70 and 72 supported on angle iron structures 74. The air circulating unit 7 0 comprises a fan or blower 76 and a steam intake heater 78, the blower being driven in the usual manner through a pulley .80 and the heater being provided with heating coils 82 supplied with steam from any suitable source. Heated air is directed downwardly from the blower exhaust through an outlet cone 48 into a duct 86, which extends in both directions from the blower longitudinally of the tunnel, a deflector 88 being provided immediately beneath the blower outlet for deflecting the air equally in both directions. The duct is supported a slight distance from the top of the tunnel anddirectly above the tops of the barrels. The duct is provided with a plurality of slots 90 spaced at regular intervals above the barrels in order to direct heated air directly against the upper surfaces of the barrels.

Connected with the duct are a plurality of drop pipes 92 provided With openings 94 for directing jets of air longitudinally of the barrels. As shown in Fig. 3, the ducts are staggered on opposite sides of the tunnel so that the barrels will be subjected to alter-. nate streams of heated air in. opposite directions lengthwise of the barrels. Dampers 96 are provided within the drop pipes for controlling the flow of air therethrough. The pipes are supported by means of U- shaped metallic clips 98 secured to astringer 100 supported in any convenient manner at its ends.

Inasmuch as the flow of air in the duct 86 decreases from its center to its ends because of the conduction of air through the drop pipes, the duct may conveniently be tapered towards its ends, as illustrated in Fig. 3, thus efi'ecting a considerable savingof material. The duct is extended slightly beyond the outermost drop pipe, as indicated at 102, to avoid cushioning effects which would prevent free entrance of air into the last drop pipe. The drop pipes are preferabl bent at their connection into the duct, as in ieated at 104, in order to provide for free entrance of air therein. The principal intake for the blower consists of a conduit 106, extending through an opening in the tunnel roofdirectly above the duct 86 and communicating with the heater 78. Air is also admitted to the heater through a pipe 108 extending from the air lock 64 into the heater and through an adjustable fresh air inlet 110 iii the heater 78. It will be seen that the major portion of the heated ,air is continuously recirculated from the blower outlet through the .duct and drop pipes and back through the conduit 106, the air lock-'64 and fresh air inlet 110 serving merely' to furnish a small quantity of relatively fresh air to compensate for the portion of the air moistened by contact with the barrels. The aircirculating unit 72 is of exactly similar construction, having an out let communicating with a duct 112, an intake conduit below the heater similar to the contunnel and supported at intervals on sleeves 118 surrounding the through bolts 44. The

steam coils being arranged directly beneath the barrels serve-to heat the latter through direct upward radiation of air.

The heating tunnel 12 is similar in construction to the above described tunnel 14, being provided with air locks 120 and 122, air ducts 124 and 126, and'drop pipes 128. The tunnel 12 is also supplied with two air circulating units 130 and 132, each having an air recirculating intake directly in the tunnel and theunit 132 having a pipe connection 134 with the air lock 122.

In order to permit removal of moist air from the tunnels, there is provided an exhausLpipe 136 having depending portions 138 and 140 extending respectively into' tunnels 12 and 14. The air may be exhausted by suction means in the pipe 136, if desired, but, inasmuchas only a small portion of the air is required to be exhausted continuously, it is found that a sufficient removal of air may be obtained'by extending the pipe 136 out doors and to a sufficient height to obtain a slight draft. The draft may be controlled in an obvious manner by the provision of dampers within the pipe 136.

In the preferred form of the invention wherein the barrels are conveyed in series successively through tunnels 12 and 14, the major portion of the moisture will be removed from the barrels in the initial heating tunnel 12 so that it is desirable to provide exhausting means for this tunnel alone, in addition to the exhaust 136. To this end, an exhaust pipe 142 also leading to the outside atmos phere communicates directly through a downward extension 144 into the tunnel 12. The exhaust pipe 142 connects through a conduit 146 with the air lock 120. The removal of air through the pipe 142may also be controlledby dampers in the pipes 142 and 146 in the usual manner.

The preferred mode of operation of the veyed slowly through the tunnel. The air of the barrels through the drop pipes 92, as

indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, the streams covering a sufficient range to be directed both internally of the barrel and against the external surfaces. -Owing to staggered relation of the drop pipes, these currents are directed through the barrels alternately in opposite directions so that the rapid succession of alternately directed currents causes, through the opposition of the air streams, a Whirlwind of air against both the inner and outer walls of the barrel, insuring a maximum contact of the heated air against all portions of the wood and preventing the passage of air through the barrels without eflective drying action. The succession of air streams in opposite directions also causes a thorough scavenging of the air within the barrels, permitting the same to be immediately presented for removal through the exhaust ducts and recirculation through the heater and fan.

In practice, it is desirable to circulate an amount of air far in excess of that required for the actual removal of moisture. Ordi narily an excess of about five hundred times is considered most satisfactory. -Accordingly, it is necessary to provide for continuous replenishment of only about one five-hundredth part of the air within the tunnel. This replenishment may take place through the fresh air inlets of the air circulating units, and to some extent through the conduit 134rbecause of the unavoidable loss of heated air and gain of fresh air within the Idol? 122. Inasmuch as the barrels are presented to the lock 120 and the left hand end of the tunnel 12 in their wettest condition, a very considerable portion of the moisture is removed before the barrel is conveyed to :any great eX-' tent into the tunnel and for-t is reason it is not considered desirable to rep enish air from the lock 120. Accordingly, a large art of the moist airis preferably removed iii the 1 initial portion of the tunnel through the exhaust pipes 142 and 146. After the 'exit of each barrel from the tunnel 12. the barrel is transferred either by hand or by the. short conveyor 19 which receives the barrels from conveyor 16 and discharges them onto conveyor 18. The latter runs in the opposite di-1 rcction from the conveyor 16, thereby subjecting the barrels to the action of heated air in the tunnel M, a guard 152 being provided for properly positioning the barrels previous to their entrance into the tunnels. The action within the tunnel 14 is exactly similar to that within the tunnel 12 with the exception that a less degree of replenishment of air is necessary, because of the fact that the major portion of the moisture has been removed in the initial heating tunnel. In some cases, the replenishment of air from the locks 58 and 64 will be sufficient without assistance from the fresh air inlets of the air circulating units.

As previously pointed out, the barrels may be run through the tunnels in parallel if desired, in which case the conveyors should be run at half speed in order to obtain the same drying action. It is preferable, however, to use the series or two stage method, as above outlined, because the greater portion of the moisture may be removed in the initial stage and the completion of the heating operation carried out in the. second stage. Inasmuch as the replenishment of fresh air is less for the second tunnel than for the first, the entire heating operation may be carried out more economically and effectively with the series method.

It has been found that barrels dried in this manner are exceedingly tight and durable Not only all of the steam but also even a portion of the sap moisture of the wood may be removed by this method without danger of burning or otherwise injuring the barrels by v overheating.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the present invention also contemplates the heating of a plurality of barrels of different sizes at one time by nesting barrels of varying diameters. The barrel 38 has received within it a medium size barrel 160,within which is nested a smaller barrel 162, all three of which may be carried in place of one barrel through a tunnel.

While the inner barrels are not subjected to p the downwardly directed streams of air from the duct 86 and the upward streams from the steam coils 116, the action of the longitudinal streams from the drop pipes-has been found'sufiicient for thoroughly heating the barrels, it being only necessary'perhaps to provide for some slight additional replenishment of fresh air to compensate for the greater amount of moisture taken up from the three barrels. It will be appreciated that this nesting of the barrels is a feature which cannot be accomplished-by the usual open flame method of heating.

While in-the specification and claims reference is made only to barrels as the article tobe dried, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto but that analogous articles may be treated by'the process and operated upon by the app'aratusdescribed herein. and where in the claims the terms barrel and barrels are employed, they are to be taken as including analogous articles.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of heating barrels which consists in directing currents of highly heated air at high velocity and in straight axial streams longitudinally of the barrel into first one end of the barrel and then into i 'the other end to create turbulent currents within the barrel.

2. The method of heating barrels which consists in subjecting the interior and exterior surfaces of the barrel to separate currents of heated air and directed in straight streams axially of the barrel alternately in opposite directions.

3. The method of heating barrels which consists in directing'currents of heated air continuously to the exterior of the barrel and in straight axial streams and alternately in opposite directions to the interior of the barre 4:. The methodrof heating barrels which consists in directing straight axial streams of highly heated air-at high velocity alternately to opposite ends of the barrel to: create turbulent air currents within the barrel, and simultaneously directing currents of heated air against the outer wall of the barrel.

- I 5. The method of heating barrels which consists in passing the barrel through a series'of separate currents of heated air flowing alternately in opposite directions and in straight axial streams to the open ends of the barrel and simultaneously through another current of heated air flowing continuously in one direction. Y

6. An apparatus for heating barrels having, in combination, a closed tunnel, means for conveying'barrels through thetunnel, a I plurality of drop pipes arranged vertically adjacent to the sides of the tunnel and staggered on opposite sides of the tunnel and having a plurality of discharge openings for directing streams of air crosswise of the tunnel and axially of the barrels and into the interior and along the exterior thereof alternately in opposite directions, and means for supplying heated air to the drop pipes.

7. An apparatus for heating barrels having, in combination, a closed tunnel, means for conveying barrels through the tunnel, an air duct having provision for directing air against the tops of the barrels, and a plurality of drop pipes connected to the duct and arranged in staggered relation on opposite sides of the tunnel for directing streams of air through the barrels, and means for heating and circulating air through the duct and drop pipes.

8. An apparatus for heating barrels having, in combination, a closed tunnel, a duct arranged lengthwise of the tunnel and having provision for directing streams of air downwardly, ducts in staggered relation on opposite sides of the tunnel for directing alternate streams of air in opposite directions horizontally across the tunnel, means for conveying the barrels successively through the tunnel and with their axes parallel to the directions of air flow across the tunnel, and means for circulating highly heated air through the ducts.

9. An apparatus for heating barrels hav ing, in combination, a closed tunnel, a conveyor for carrying barrels successively through the tunnel, a duct secured at the top of the tunnel and having provision for directing streams of air downwardly against the tops of the barrels, a plurality of drop pipes streams axially and interiorly of the barrels to create by opposition of currents a turbulent air flow within the barrel to insure contact of heated air with the bilge and all interior portions of the barrels.

11. The method of heating barrels which consists in subjecting a barrel to alternate and successive currents of-heated air in opposite directions axially of and into the interior of the barrel and to a separate current of heated air in .a direction substantially atright angles. to the axially directed currents.

LUCIEN' BUCK. 

